The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-24
DR.. BLAND MUST GO.
TIE COMMITTEE lsEcosislEsDs
Ills Removal From the supcrintendcncy o
tho Asylum on the Grounds OF Incom.
penteney and Other Matters-A VERY. X
Bad State Of Afrairs Divuigsd.
His Removal
spectal DtspoleA % he Inttlliuenetr.

Special Dipalch 10 he Ini.lli0eneer. K.
OHARLEsroN, W. VA, Feb. 23.-The re-.
port Of the spccial committee which In.
vestigated the Weston Asylum was read
In both houses this morning, and its dis.
closures created decided sensation. In
tho House resolution was adopted re.
queating the Judiciary Committee 10 ex.
amino the report and report forthwith
what action the House should take upon
1t. The Senate has taken no action lest
itahall hereafter become It's duty to sit in
tho matter as high court Of limpoach.
ment. 'no. u F5HE3
This report, which IL voluminous, winds
up with a very important rccommenda.
tion, and that Is the removal Of Dr.. Bland,
the present Superintendent. The com.
mittee was IN seaaion at the Asylum two
weeks and their investigation was thor.
ouSh and complete, and conducted With
ont bias or prejudice. Although some OF
the evidence was unsatisfactory In regard
to establishing certain changes, enough
was adduced to enable the committee 10
recommend the removal OF tho Superin.
tendent and to suggest certain reforms
beneficial to the management and con.
duct Of the Asylum. The report to the
Legislature was signed by every member
Of the committee. M.
FINDING OF THE coMMIrrEs. N
In the frat place tho committee finds
that the provision Of the statute [Code,,
chapter IS, section lG], ,''that after the ad.
mission Of patients an examining board
shall be convened as soon as may be-" ia
systematically ignored, 1t thus may sbs
possible to send idiots and inebriates to
the hospital, and what is far worae, there
is left no safeguard to prevent tho 'incar.
ceration OF a eano person In tho hoepitaI
on the commitment OF q Justice of the
peace and the certificate Of a purcEaseab!e
quack. :. ''1f' So = '",s''''
The Superintendent and local directors
arc in fsu!t for not holding such boards.
and the direcsors generally are in fault for
not seeing that the law in this respect ia
obeyed. It is claimed that this provision
Of the law Ia uselees. II such bs tho opin.
ion OF the authorities OF the hospital they
should have recommended to the Leylsla.
tura the repeal Of tha. section Of the law.
Al Of our time has been go cloesly oc.
cupisd that We have not examined into
tho financial transactions OF the hospital
and We have heard no complaint respect
ing them. For like reasons we have not
examined the books Of account or the
office OF the clerk. In investigating other
matters, however. we have ascertained
some facts which ought to bemade known
to tho Legislature. Tho Treasurer gives
bond in the penalty Of $4,000 with two
sursties, one OF them tbs Superintendent.
With respect to come OF the funds ct lsas!
1t would bo the duty Of the Suparintand.
ent to detect and prove any detalcSt;on of
which Treasurer might be guilty. The
Superintendent therefore should not be
one of the Hureties OF the Treasurer. l. ia
even moro remarkable that tho Treas.
urct'S bond is lodged with the Super;n.
tendent, 30 that this bond for the indem-
nifty Of the State is placed for safe keeping
IN the hands OF one OF the sureties who
slgucd it. The Board Of Directors might be
expected to pay soma attention 10 mat.
ter Of this sort. j. 9 q s9f NJ a. &
The committee has ascertsined thst the
Superintendent is not required to give
bond although he has at his disposal $1,000
or s. coo, and control Of valuable property.
1t Is recommended that q bond be 70.
qulred. f.sl9 y